Palm Beach Gardens Shuts Down Suncoast

Riley Colbath delivers a pitch.

The Palm Beach Gardens Gators used pitching, timely hitting and defense to beat the Suncoast Chargers 3-0 Wednesday night.

The Gators used two pitchers to throw a six-hit shutout while recording seven strikeouts. 

Leading the way was starter Riley Colbath, who got the win, throwing five and one-third scoreless innings and striking out five. Matt Williams, starting at first base, relieved Colbath in the sixth and closed the game with two strikeouts.

“Great timely hits from offense and defense was great out here,” said Palm Beach Gardens winning pitcher Riley Colbath. “It’s great knowing I have a great defense behind me and an offense that will scrap for runs.”

The Gators pitching did great, but the Chargers pitching wasn’t far behind. They battled and kept their team in the game.

Starter Jack Granger threw three innings, striking out three, and allowing three unearned runs.

Braden Hartigan came in the sixth for one scoreless inning and recorded a strikeout.

Chargers starter Jack Granger receives signs.

The defense made the plays behind their pitchers when needed, like getting a force out at home plate, and the offense relied a little more on key, small-ball plays, such as a squeeze play.

The Gators (12-3) were held scoreless until the fourth inning.  First baseman Matt Williams led off the fourth by reaching first on an error by the defense. Right fielder Joey Boyd followed with a base hit to left field, and third baseman Caleb Perez then laid down a great sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position.

Center fielder Nick Horvath hit a groundball fielder’s choice to third, and the first run of the game scored as Williams came home on the play.

With a runner 90 feet away, second baseman Hunter Sanicky executed a perfect squeeze play for a hit to bring in the second run of the game.  

Granger continued battling and was able to get out of the inning, leaving two runners stranded on base.

The Gators added another run in the fifth.

Designated hitter Pavin Smith led the inning off with a double to the centerfield fence.  Catcher J.J. Schwarz, who threw out three runners on the night, followed up with a line drive to right to move Smith to third.  Williams then brought in the third run.

Sendle Jean went 2-for-3

The Chargers (5-6) rallied in the sixth. Shortstop Will Engel led off the inning with a base hit to left and and an error and walk loaded the bases, but were unable to score after force out play at home by the defense and a big strike out to end the threat.

“Suncoast played well.  Starting pitcher was tough,” Palm Beach Gardens Manager Joe Russo said. “We did a great job. Situational hitting was key. We were able to get some bunts down, move runners over, and some clutch hits. Pitchers did a great job. They bared down when needed and were able to get big outs. Its a good overall win.”

Up next for Palm Beach Gardens is Summit Christian at home Friday night. Suncoast will travel to district rival Fort Pierce Westwood on Friday afternoon.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!